#107, August 14, 2007

       Cruzio Newsletter - Number 107, August 14, 2007


1. Workshop this Thursday: Troubleshooting Your Computer
2. Hands-on Classes This Month: Photo Gallery and Advanced Blogging
3. Moving?
4. Gizmo of the Month: iPod Recharger
5. AT&T Censors Pearl Jam in Webcast
6. Free Computer Care Clinic Saturday, August 25th
7. The Cruzio Survey Results: What You Said
8. Where Is the Surf?
9. Watsonville New Store Opening, Sunday September 9th
10. Newsgroup Readers Please Read This: A Change in Port Speeds
11. Backup Dialup Charge
12. Summer Hours
13. Class Schedule Through November
14. Buddy Bucks
15. Feed the Hungry, We'll Waive Your Late Fees
16. About This Newsletter
17. How to Reach Cruzio (Dial-in or Tech Support)


1. Workshop this Thursday: Troubleshooting Your Computer
   Thursday, August 16th, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, $10.00
   903 Pacific Avenue, Downtown Santa Cruz

At Cruzio, we meticulously care for dozens of our own computers,
constantly updating and upgrading their operating systems, hardware,
and anti-virus software. We also fix customer computers for reasonable
fees. We're ready to share what we know with our members who would 
like to do it themselves.

Come learn the basics from some of our top techs and your computer
can be running like a champ. Many tips and tricks of the trade will be
imparted at this low-cost workshop -- it's well worth the small fee.
Sign up at
	http://classes.cruzio.com


2. Hands-on Classes This Month: Photo Gallery and Advanced Blogging
   "One Day Photo Gallery"
   Thursday, August 23rd, 9:00 - 11:00 am, $99.00
   903 Pacific Avenue, downtown Santa Cruz

Be honest: does anyone but you ever see your digital photographs?
Many of us have a wealth of pictures sitting on our computer's hard
disk, and family or friends who would really like to see them.
Connecting pictures to viewers isn't hard, and Cruzio can help.

Whether you are a professional or just a shutterbug sharing photos
with the family, an online photo gallery is the best way to organize,
display, and archive your work. Other members of the family can contribute
pictures of their own to the gallery. The software we recommend is called
Gallery2 and it comes free with a Cruzio Website Plus or Premium account.

Gallery2 is easy to set up and populate, even easier when you start out
with a little help. Experienced instructors Mike Brogan and Edgar Landeros
make the program even easier and more understandable. They'll guide you
through every step, from choosing an appearance to helping you actually
upload your pictures.  When you leave the class, you'll have a real
photo gallery of your own up and running -- it's guaranteed. 

   "Advanced Blogging"
   Thursday, August 30th, 9:00 - 11:00 am, $99.00
   903 Pacific Avenue, downtown Santa Cruz

Now for the next class. There are a lot of blogs in the blogosphere: some
reports say 120,000 new blogs are created every day. If one of them is
yours, have you been wondering how to make your site more unique, and how
to reach more people with it? Experienced bloggers Mike Brogan and Jessi
Hance can help you stand above the crowd with a variety of new customized
themes and interactive features. They'll also show you how to analyze your
site's statistics and will share tips on popularizing your blog.

As with all our hands-on classes, you'll be working on your actual site
in the class, so that we can help with real-life problems. Improve
your blog and make your online life easier!

Sign up for either Hands-on class at
	http://classes.cruzio.com


3. Moving?
We see rental vans crazily parked all around town again -- a lot of
folks are moving. Although you may still struggle with your couch,
when it comes to moving your Internet, Cruzio can help the transfer
go smoothly. In many cases there need be no interruption of service
at all and in others hardly a hiccup -- but please let us know you
are moving, ideally several weeks before the move takes place.

We are very experienced with Internet moves and can help you with
the phone company's requirements and other such normally bothersome
details -- it is really nice to have Cruzio at your side in these
matters. We pride ourselves on making things easy for you. Do give us
a call or email us at office@cruzio.com to let us know your plans.


4. Gizmo of the Month: iPod Recharger
What do you lose most often? It couldn't be keys, because if you
lost those all the time you'd never get in your car or house.
It couldn't be wallet because you'd be so annoying to your lunchtime
companions ("I'm sorry, would you mind lending me...") No, it must
be something small... something your friend or sweetie is always
borrowing without asking... something you forget about the moment
you unplug it.

Obviously we are describing an iPod recharger.

Your iPod can't work long without a recharger, and if you are like
us you can't work long without an iPod. Cruzio has rechargers in stock
at our downtown store and we recommend you get a spare to keep in
a drawer somewhere. Better yet, it makes a lovely gift for that special
someone who always seems to have yours. Just $19.99 each.


5. AT&T Censors Pearl Jam in Webcast
Telecommunications executives assure us there is no danger in leaving
all Internet access in the hands of just a couple of companies. Cable,
they say, will keep the phone company honest and vice versa. No need
for any other Internet providers (like Cruzio or Earthlink, for example).

But then one of those big companies does something revealing, like
silencing singer Eddy Veder's words in a concert when he inserted
his own lyrics into Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall." The words
which AT&T cut were "George Bush, leave this world alone."

Of course, it is a private broadcast and AT&T or its subsidiary can beep
out anything it likes, just as a newspaper can refuse to print statements
it finds offensive. But without other companies willing to broadcast
alternative viewpoints, what would the Internet be like? Are two Internet
providers really enough choice? Cruzio believes that more competition is
necessary to ensure Net Neutrality -- the principle that Internet providers
will keep their hands off the content of what they deliver.

See the song and the cuts for yourself on YouTube:
    
  

6. Free Computer Care Clinic Saturday, August 25th
   10 am to 2 pm
   903 Pacific Avenue, Downtown Santa Cruz
   Macintosh or Windows computers 
	
One customer told us her computer has been "prattling:" making
strange busy noises when she's not using it. Other folks have noticed
slowness or have been overwhelmed by popup windows. Even more seriously,
people are rightly concerned about the security of their data, which
viruses may read or erase -- both potentially devastating.

There is no need to tolerate a computer that's not operating
properly or that's leaking your personal information. And with
Cruzio's upcoming free clinic, you can solve these problems fast.

Bring your computer in to Cruzio on Saturday, August 25th and
our expert technicians will have a good look at it free of charge.
Does it run slower than it should? Is it infected with a virus?
Does it need more memory, an operating system upgrade, security or
privacy protection? Or is it beyond hope of repair?

Your visit will include a free start-up optimization. If your computer
has problems requiring further repair, leave it with us and we will give
you 25% off any of our computer care services. (So please, be ready
to leave your computer with us if necessary).

Please arrive no later than 1:30 pm so we can slot you in for a full
diagnostic. First come, first served.

Read about this and other events at
	http://events.cruzio.com 


7. The Cruzio Survey Results: What You Said
If you filled out our recent online survey, many thanks! Here
are some of the results:

As promised, Cruzio top management read not only the overall
statistical results but every single comment entered. We received
a lot of compliments (thanks, we love you too!) and a lot of
suggestions on how to improve our service, which we welcome.
After all, we are here to serve you. That's simple but profoundly
true, and we never forget it.

Overall, we were happy that so many people took the five minutes to
send us their thoughts. That is a kind thing to do when you all have
such busy lives. We had over 300 responses, which is great.

About half of those responding were interested in classes and workshops.
We had a lot of suggestions for new workshops, and our Classes Program
Manager Mike is considering them.

A lot of DSL customers responded. We found that most people who have
DSL are happy with the speed and the price. Cruzio got its highest marks
in friendliness, technical support, reliability, and billing (our finance
department is very proud of that last one -- go Nikkie and Chris!).

Some responders wanted longer technical support hours. We're aware that
people would appreciate more hours and we increased them earlier this
year. It's a tough issue, though: many companies provide longer hours,
but sub-standard support, often outsourced overseas. At Cruzio we
require that anyone who answers the phone be able to actually help
you.

Most survey-takers asked us not to change the format of the
newsletter to something fancier. Rest assured, if we change the format
it will not be anything complicated or huge to download. We'll only
switch formats if we find something tasteful and minimal that can
work for everyone.

One person urged us to "encourage really dumb questions." Done!
Please ask us your dumb questions, often they are easy to answer
and a quick email or call makes everyone happy.

We enjoyed reading your thoughts about Cruzio.

We also enjoyed using the spiffy new survey software and we hope you liked
it too: if you have a Web Plus or Premium account on Cruzio, as many
hundreds of you do, you can use the same survey software free of charge. 


8. Where Is the Surf?
Where are the waves? The weather is beautiful but the bay is smooth
as glass. Come on, swells, it's summertime in Santa Cruz!

Remember: you can check surf conditions before you go to the trouble
of getting your gear together and heading out. We recommend Surfin'
Santa Cruz as a great local resource for forecasts, plus there's
excellent advice from "the Kahuna" (whose name is also apparently
Bob) on how to avoid surfer's ear and other perils. Even if you
don't surf, how can you call yourself a local if you don't heed
advice from "the Kahuna?":
	http://www2.cruzio.com/%7Erls/surfnSantaCruz.html

This is just one fine local Web site for outdoor summer fun. You may
want to check out some others, too. We've collected some sites about
local cycling, hiking, and more on Cruzio's "Cool Stuff" page:
	http://www.cruzio.com/local_info/cool_stuff.html


9. Watsonville New Store Opening, Sunday September 9th
   11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Free
   25 East Beach Street, Downtown Watsonville

Our Watsonville store has done so well that we've moved to a
larger and sunnier location right on Beach Street in downtown
Watsonville, across from the plaza square. If you'd rather not
drive Highway 1 to Santa Cruz, please drop by the Beach Street
office.

You're especially welcome to join us on September 9th for our Grand
Opening party. While there, you can use our ultra-fast new rental
computers, learn about downloading music the legal way, and see how to
set up photo galleries -- all free of charge. We'll have activities,
games, and cake. Best of all -- unless you *really* love cake --
you can enter a raffle to win a year of FREE DSL!  And you know the
thing about a Cruzio raffle is, unlike a nationwide or statewide raffle,
you actually have a decent chance of winning. Everyone is welcome to
participate, current and new customers alike.

Since it's such a convenient and visible location, we hope you'll
find it easy to stop by. Gershom Toriz, the Watsonville store 
manager, is almost always on hand to help you with your services
and he'll definitely be there to say hello at the opening party.


10. Newsgroup Readers Please Read This: A Change in Port Speeds
Since high-speed connections are more and more common these days,
Cruzio is switching all our newsgroup services to those that can handle
a fast DSL connection. That means if you've been reading newsgroups at
slower speeds you might have to make a small change to your settings.
We expect to upgrade in about a month, and we'll be happy to walk you
through the change. Just give us a call or email helpdesk@cruzio.com
if you have any questions.


11. Backup Dialup Charge
As those of you with DSL 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 may have noticed,
Cruzio is now charging a nominal fee of 82 cents per month for
the backup dialup connection that was formerly free with each
account. We are forced to add this small fee because the costs
of supplying DSL and dialup access have risen.

We recommend that you keep the backup connection. It can be useful 
when you are traveling, since it is available nationwide, or if your
DSL equipment or circuit is temporarily not functioning. The backup
dialup is rarely used, however, so if you would like to cancel the
service please call us or email office@cruzio.com. If you cancel the
backup, and wish to reinstate it later, we can certainly do so, but
there will be a $5.00 reconnect fee.

We regret having to charge for this service. Luckily, however, we
are able to keep the charge very low, less than a fifth of what
some other ISPs charge -- when they offer the service at all. Cable
Internet, for example, does not have any backup and when it is not
working there is no Internet connection at all.


12. Summer Hours
While Pacific Avenue is at its summer-busiest, Cruzio will be
keeping our store open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to
4 pm. If you need to stop by to make a payment or use a rental
computer (free for a half hour to any Cruzio customer) you're
welcome to do so. It's store hours only -- Technical Support
hours remain the same as always.


13. Class Schedule Through November

September
September 6: "Get Rid of Spam" Brown Bag
September 11: "One Night Web Site" Hands-on class
September 13: "Selling Your Products Online With ShopSite" Brown Bag

October
October 11: "One Night Blog" Hands-on class
October 18: "One Night Web Site Advanced" Hands-on class
October 23: "Set Up Your Online Store" Hands-on class

November
November 8: "Free Software Alternatives" Brown Bag
November 13: "Introduction to the Internet" Hands-on class
November 15: "One Day Web Site" Hands-on class

Check http://classes.cruzio.com for the latest information 
and to sign up. Dates or topics occasionally change.


14. Buddy Bucks
Remember to tell your friends that among its many beauties and
special features Santa Cruz is home to one of the oldest and
most independent Internet Service Providers on the planet. Yes,
Cruzio is a local feature, just like the surf and the Boardwalk.

When you recommend us to your friends, you can get substantial
savings on your own account. We will give you $10 credit for any
access customer you refer, and if they buy a number of services you
can get even credit. Be sure they tell us your full name, email address
or account number when they sign up.


15. Feed the Hungry, We'll Waive Your Late Fees
If you're late on a payment to Cruzio, turn it into a donation
to hungry folks in our community. We will waive your late
fee if you bring 3 cans into our office for our Second Harvest
Food Bank barrel. Learn more about this charity at
	http://www.thefoodbank.org


16. About This Newsletter
Cruzio doesn't like to waste bandwidth with extra email, but we sometimes
have events and announcements that users need to know about. This seems
like the most efficient way to let people know what's happening. Hope
it's helpful. Please email support@cruzio.com with any comments or questions. 
By the way, we would love to have a regular, predictable schedule
for this newsletter...but we simply do not send it unless there is real
news enclosed. Thus the haphazard datelines.


17. How to Reach Cruzio (dial-in or tech support)
To reach the Cruzio Information Center, for online technical and
sales information:
	http://www.cruzio.com/support 
  
To dial in to Cruzio, set your software to dial one of the numbers
below (note: we've expanded and joined modem pools, so you may be 
using another number. If so, don't worry, it still works just fine).
   
   Dialup (in Santa Cruz County): 459-9408

   Nationwide Dialup: Look up local number on our Web page:
      http://www.cruzio.com/support/dialup_isdn/nationwide_numbers.html
   or call Cruzio toll free, 1.800.303.3302

To call Cruzio:
         459-6301............Use this number to check Cruzio's system status,
            pay your Cruzio bill, find out more about our hours and location,
            or to reach someone in customer service and technical support.
         722-6200 .......... Cruzio's number in Watsonville.
   
To send email to Cruzio, use one of these addresses:
   	support@cruzio.com ......for technical support
	office@cruzio.com .......for billing and ordering information

Cruzio's locations:
	Santa Cruz: 903 Pacific Avenue, Suite 101, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
	Watsonville: Plaza Vigil, 23 E. Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
	
Cruzio's hours:
	Sales hours: 10am-6pm, Monday through Friday; 10 am - 2 pm Saturday
	Technical support: 8am to 6pm, Mon to Fri, 10am - 2pm Saturday
	System monitoring, including customer-alerted emergencies, 24 hours
		per day, 365 days per year (leap years, 366 days)

Thanks very much from Cruzio:
	Chris, Peggy, Julianne, Mark, Paul, Gershom, Jessi, James,
	Juana, Nikkie, Mike, Don, Bruce, Edgar, Brian, Westi, Andrew,
	Jaime, another Chris, yet another Chris, Diana, Maria, Tommy,
	Orlando and Loren;
	our awesome summer interns, Peter, Doreen and Shogo
	Jake, Annika, and Carly (the kids)

"When life gives you lemons, make beef stew." -- Jake, quoting a TV
program on what to do when the going gets tough.